Syllabus

Spring Quarter 2012

English 201 OES, Item #1144

The Research Paper

Instructor: Martha Silano

Class Times: Online through our Vista course site

Classroom: None

 

OFFICE: R230K

OFFICE HOUR: By appointment only

OFFICE PHONE: (425) 564-2078 (messages forwarded to my campus email address)

EMAIL ADDRESS (preferred method of communication): use my Vista email address. If Vista is not operating, use my campus email address: msilano@bellevuecollege.edu (If you send me email, please put your name and course name/number in the subject line).

 

AFFIRMATION OF INCLUSION: Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp

 

Modality/Participation: This is a 100% online class. This means that we do not meet face-to-face (ftf) in a traditional classroom, and that all assignments, discussions, and related course work will be conducted on our Blackboard/Vista course site. Active (5x a week minimum) participation in our online Vista community is mandatory; that is, to pass this course, you must log in to our course site and participate regularly (five days a week) and complete the assigned work, including online discussions, posting and critiquing rough draft essays, and submitting your finalized assignments to the instructor. A tentative quarterly schedule and updated weekly schedules are available in the week-by-week (Weeks 1-11) Learning Modules, accessible by clicking on the Course Content (house) tab and the Sweet Pea icon. Please read and print out this Course Syllabus to find out all the essential information about successfully completing this course, then head to the Week 1 learning module to find out what to do next.

 

Access: Vista may be accessed via the following URL: http://vista.bcc.ctc.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct. If you run into problems with Vista, please contact Liz Anderson (A140) in the Distance Learning Office: landerso@bellevuecollege.edu. Her phone is (425) 564-2438 or toll free 1-877-641-2712.

 

This course syllabus, detailed weekly schedules, assignment guidelines, and all supplemental materials and links are available on our Blackboard/Vista course site.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS: a 2-pocket folder or three-ring binder for saving drafts; a spiral notebook, index cards, or a computerized notebook/table for taking research notes; access to a reliable computer with an ISP, Web Browser, and a word processing program. You should also have a back-up computer (campus computer lab, library, friend) with the same available services ready at your disposal should your primary computer fail you. Preferred: An external method of backing up your computer files (ESB).

 

IF YOU DO NOT OWN A COMPUTER OR HAVE ACCESS TO ONE: There is an open computer lab on campus in N250. They have over 200 PCs and Macs for student use. If you are using a campus computer, make sure that you save your work externally (or email it to yourself), so you do not accidentally lose access to it.

 

GETTING YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS UP TO SPEED AND GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH VISTA/BLACKBOARD:

 

Click on these sites for information about Equipment and Skills Requirements, taking a student tutorial, and for deadlines re: withdrawing from a course, receiving a tuition refund, etc.:

 

http://distance-ed.bcc.ctc.edu/skills.asp

 

http://distance-ed.bcc.ctc.edu/studentguide/

 

http://distance-ed.bcc.ctc.edu/browserhelp/

 

http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calender/deadlines/fall08.asp

 

COURSE THEME: Rather than writing a research paper about anything under the sun, this course requires you to limit your scope to a topic relevant to the course theme of food sustainability. Sustainable food practices are ones that could conceivably continue in perpetuity without damage to culture, the environment, or to those people who live in proximity to or who work to grow, harvest, and distribute the food being produced. Sustainability, having its root in sustain, also relates to the eating of food that sustains rather than causing illness or disease. When we label a practice sustainable, we are also considering the degree to which this practice preserves biodiversity, achieves its affects by taking small actions that lead to large impacts, and fosters healthy and just economies, along with taking into consideration the impact the practice will make on the local ecosystem. Sustainability skills include intellectual openness, a sensitivity to cross-cultural perspectives, an ability to work collaboratively in groups, an ability to think laterally (connect the dots), an ability to reflect on how our personal choices affect sustainability, thinking critically and relying heavily on observation and empiricism, practicing civic responsibility, and reflecting on our own knowledge, values, and commitment through a variety of media, including literary and artistic expression.

 

As a student in a sustainability-themed course, you will be expected to consider the local as well as global impact of your personal choices when it comes to food purchasing and consumption, including how far your food has traveled to get to your plate, how your food is grown, produced, processed, packaged, and disposed of. You will also be expected to make connections between small changes in behavior and potentially huge global impacts. This video provides a fine introduction to this course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_2rD5qYzKg&feature=related.

 

The final research paper assignment, along with a working list of potential topics are posted in the general Course Content page (scroll down to the bottom of the page); my hope is that as a class we will generate even more topic ideas. Before you start to freak out about having to write and 8-10 page paper about food, take a deep breath and have a look at the list, where a great many topics are open to you within this broad category.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers. 7th Ed. Pearson: Longman: 2009. ISBN: 0-205-66611-6.

 

Pollan, Michael. Food Rules. New York: Penguin, 2008 ISBN: 10-014311638X

 

RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS:

Grammar book, dictionary, & thesaurus.

 

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES: calendar/date book for listing due dates, tasks, etc., a good dictionary, trips to the BCC Writing Lab in D-204-D (make an appointment by calling 425-564-2200).

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Students who complete this course should, by the end of the quarter, be able to write professional quality essays, critically evaluate and synthesize texts, use a breadth of library and online resources, assess and cite those sources properly, revise and edit their own writing as well as the writing of their peers, produce an 8- to 10-page humanities-style research paper that adheres to MLA guidelines, and be familiar with the terminology of the writing process. In terms of the course theme, the student, by the end of the quarter, will be amply prepared to be a responsible citizen in a globally interconnected and diverse society. S/he will also increase his/her understanding regarding the link between food and culture, the negative consequences of industrialized, processed, and profit-motivated food production, the relationship between food and health, local and alternative food systems, the issue of local and world hunger, and contemporary food movements such as locavorism and the slow food movement.

 

COURSE CONTENT: This quarter you will read, discuss, and write about the assigned texts; complete two formal essays relating to the course theme; produce a research proposal, annotated bibliography, outline, and research paper rough draft; analyze and peer edit essays and papers written by your classmates; practice locating, assessing reliability of, assimilating and documenting sources; produce a formal 8- to 10-page research paper; and write informally and reflectively (in the form of journal entries and self-reflections), assessing your own progress as a writer and an active participant in online discussions.

 

GRADING: Each assigned essay will be accompanied by a stand-alone assignment sheet with specific guidelines, along with a grading rubric.

 

Grading breakdown/points:

Essay 1 (summary & response): 100

Essay 2 (synthesis): 100

Research Proposal: 50

Interview Self-Assessment: 25

Annotated Bibliography: 50

Rough Research Paper Outline: 50

Research Paper Rough Draft: 100

Final Research Paper: 200

Weekly journal entries: 50

Weekly Online Discussions: 100

Peer Review Participation: 100

Syllabus Quiz: 10

Scavenger Hunt: 10

Final Presentation: 50

Course Evaluation: 5

 

TOTAL POINTS: 1,000

 

Methods of Instruction:

Short online lectures, field research and data collection/analysis, analysis of readings, online weekly discussions, assignments, and study questions, peer review of class members writings, impromptu grammar and writing assignments, and other relevant activities.

 

General Assessment:

Your grade will depend on your abilities to demonstrate mastery of the skills and activities described above. Since writing is above all process-oriented, your grade will be evaluated in part by your efforts and class participation.

 

Personal Responsibility:

I understand that life happens, but if you want to receive a good grade and have a valuable experience in this class, you must participate. Do your reading, get your assignments in on time, participate actively and thoughtfully in the online discussions, and ask for help at an appropriate time (i.e., before you are in deep trouble) and you should do well in here. Be sure to ask questions if an assignment or expectation is not clear to you, either via email or during my office hour. I am here to support you in your learning but need to know from you how best to do this.

 

In summary, to receive the highest grade you should do all of the following:

¥ participate regularly in online discussions and peer reviews;

á read assigned readings on time;

á finish and turn in assignments, including drafts, on time;

á complete peer reviews and self-assessments (journal entries) as assigned.

 

To receive credit for English 201, you must complete the two essays and all preliminary assignments related to the final research paper as they are assigned. In addition, the technical quality of your writing must be at least at the C level for you to receive a grade of C or above in this course. This means that I cannot factor in participation if your average essay grade in this class falls below a C. Finally, your final paper must adhere to MLA citation guidelines—containing both a Works Cited and in-text parenthetical notations—in order for it to receive a passing grade. I repeat: papers that lack either a works cited, parenthetical citations, or both, will receive an automatic zero; this includes the rough draft research paper as well as the final research paper.

 

Blackboard Vista Outages: If our class site crashes or goes off-line temporarily, it is best to reach me through my campus email address, msilano@bellevuecollege.edu. Unless the College dictates otherwise, I will expect that you have in your possession hard copies of the schedule and syllabus, and/or whatever assignment we are working on, and can continue doing your work during temporary outages. Please check your campus email often to stay apprised of when/if Vista has its usual share of technical glitches and burps this quarter.

 

Class Policies

 

Student Behavior/Classroom Atmosphere: You will be expected to comport yourself in a respectful and thoughtful manner as you post our ideas and opinions to the Discussions area, and when commenting on the work/comments of your classmates. Please join me in making the atmosphere in this class supportive, comfortable, & positive. What I ask of you is a sincere commitment to the course theme and in learning how to write a research paper, including a willingness to explore new ways of generating ideas for and revising your own work and the work of your classmates. While communicating online, the same level of respect and courtesy applies. Remember: do not ever say anything in writing that you would not say to someone in person (ftf). Let us all strive to be kind and respectful this quarter as we provide constructive feedback and create and sustain a positive and productive learning community.

 

If a student addresses a student or the instructor inappropriately, I will provide specifics in writing as to what behavior must be stopped, reiterate my expectation of civility and an atmosphere conducive to learning, and warn of a referral to the Dean of Student Services. If the misbehavior continues, the student will be reported to the Dean of Student Services for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion.

 

Withdrawals: Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the course (not participating, not completing assignments) will be advised to withdraw from the course to avoid receiving an F grade (0) on his/her transcript. Please refer to the BC Academic Calendar for relevant deadlines: http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/deadlines/#Spring-2011.

 

Paper format/late assignments/grace period: I expect all assignments to be typed on a computer using a word processing system that interfaces with Vista/Blackboard; MS Word is the preferred program for this class. Manuscript formatting guidelines are available in Course Info (in Course Content). All major assignments are due on the date listed in the daily course schedule and on our Vista/Blackboard online class calendar. However, I offer a 48-hour grace period for assignments received up to 48 hours after the stated due date. Unless we have made other arrangements, assignments not received 48 hours after the stated due date will not be accepted and will result in a zero for that particular assignment (for instance, an essay due Monday by 11:59 PM must be submitted online by Wednesday by11:59 PM).

 

Option to Revise: You will have the option of revising essays 1 or 2 after I have graded them. Revisions are due during the tail end of the quarter (Week 9). I will grade the revised essay and then average it with the grade you initially received on the paper. This averaged grade will be your final grade for the essay.

 

Heads Up About Saving Your Work: Every quarter I remind students to print out their drafts and save their work somewhere else than on their hard drive (for instance, on a CD), and every quarter I have students who tell me they lost their only copy of their essay when their hard drive crashed or their computer broke or got stolen. Please note: destroyed, lost, or erased documents will not exempt you from the rules regarding late papers (1/2 grade deducted per day). Do not say I did not warn you.

 

Plagiarism: Using the words or ideas of someone else as if they are your own (or allowing someone else to use your words or ideas as their own) is grounds for denial of credit (receiving an F for the course). Document sources as taught in The Curious Researcher. We will go over this in class so you are sure what constitutes plagiarism, whether intentional or through carelessness. Please visit and read the Avoiding Plagiarism page on the BC Writing Lab web site. In order to reduce the temptation to plagiarize, I will not accept a final research paper unless a research proposal, annotated bibliography, rough outline, and rough draft have been submitted in advance. Please read this information on plagiarism carefully: http://bellevuecollege.edu/lmc/links/plagiarism.html; there will be a quiz on this material, along with the contents of the syllabus, at the start of the quarter.

 

Ownership: The work that you turn in under your name is expected to be your original work, written for this course and to the specifications of the assignment. Although you are encouraged to seek feedback on your writing from others and from the Writing Center, the writing must be demonstrably and essentially your own. Save drafts, outlines and other preliminary steps toward your finished work, just in case a question of ownership arises.

 

The Disability Resource Center: The DRC serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. The DRC office is located in B 132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

 

Public Safety Department: The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department has well-trained and courteous non-commissioned staff that provide personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400. The Public Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/

 

Some last thoughts: To succeed in this class, you must participate regularly in the online discussions, be able to learn independently, stay on task, and communicate well with others. As with any college class, you can expect to do a minimum of 10 hours of homework each week. For most, online and hybrid courses are not easier than grounded ones; if anything, they present more challenges as they require a great deal of self-motivation and independent learning. I expect you to take responsibility for your success in this class, and I am here to support you in that, but the responsibility for doing so is ultimately yours. Having said that, please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel confused or overwhelmed. Writing is hard work but you would not be placed in this class if we did not think you could succeed. Do not be afraid to ask for help, but do take risks with your writing and to try to have fun with it, too. If we commit to being respectful of each other and our ideas and writing, we can have a great quarter together.

 

Note: There is no final exam scheduled for this class.

 

BC GRADE SCALE:

A 93-100%

A- 92-89%

B+ 88-86%

B 85-82%

B- 81-79%

C+ 78-76%

C 75-73%

C- 72-69%

D+ 68-66%

D 65

F 00-64%

 

FINAL GRADING SCALE (BASED ON 1,000 POINTS):

Letter Grade

Number Grade

# of Points

A

4.0-3.8

1000-930

A-

3.7-3.4

929-890

B+

3.3-3,1

889-860

B

3.0-2.8

859-820

B-

2.7-2.4

819-790

C+

2.3-2.1

789-760

C

2.0-1.8

759-730

C-

1.7-1.4

729-690

D+

1.3-1.1

689-660

D

1.0

659-650

F

649 & below

 

 

In general it takes me about a week to read and grade major assignments, including the final research essay. I will submit final grades via the Instructor Briefcase during finals week.

 

Pertinent Phone Numbers:

 

Public Safety: (425) 564-2400. Use this number for medical emergencies, fire, theft, lost & found, for a jump start or to unlock vehicles.

 

Library Media Center Reference Desk: (425) 564-6161

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/lmc/

 

BC Counseling Center: (425) 564-2212

B234 – http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/hdc/

 

Please review the Arts & Humanities division standards http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html

 

This syllabus functions as a contract between me (the instructor) and you (the student). I will work hard to abide by these policies; in turn, I expect you to familiarize yourself with course requirements and instructor expectations, to review them if you are unsure about a particular policy, and to contact me ASAP if you are unclear about my expectations or policies.

 

While our time together this quarter will be 100% virtual, I have found in that steady concerted effort to participate often and with diligence/care can serve us well to create a productive and nurturing online community. I look forward to being part of such a thriving online community, and to working with each of you this quarter.